Rio de Janeiro Carnival Hostel Experience - SZCY

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1 Last Updated: April 29, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Carnival Hostel Experience - SZCY 6 days: Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro What's Included Rio de Janeiro city tour (full-day) Christ Redeemer visit Sugar Loaf Mountain visit G purple costume party Carnival festivities Sambadrome tickets in section 11 Carnival parade Experience Carnival with other G Adventures travellers CEOs and G Staff available to offer assistance and support All transport between destinations and to/from included activities The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and G Adventures. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. VALIDITY: Valid for all trips departing January 1st, 2017 and onwards Itinerary Notes Please note that all travellers booking this package will be sharing mixed-sex dormitory-style rooms with other G Adventures travellers. Itinerary

2 Itinerary Day 1Rio de Janeiro Arrive at any time. Arrive at any time and settle into a dorm in a hostel in Leme, located within walking distance to street parties, the beach, and public transportation. Meet some of your fellow G Adventures travellers. Leme is located next to Copacabana and is a great home base for Carnival. Arrival Day Begin your adventure today. There are no planned activities so feel free to explore or rest up for the excitement ahead. El Misti Leme Hostel (or similar) Hotel Day 2Rio de Janeiro Enjoy a city tour that visits some of the city's best features including Sugar Loaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. Admire the cityscape from different viewpoints and be sure to snap a few photos. Enjoy a city tour, visiting Rio's most iconic sites including Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer statue, and Maracanã stadium. Enjoy a free evening to relax or search for Carnival street parties as the city gears up. Rio de Janeiro City Tour Rio de Janeiro5h-6h There's so much to see and do in this vibrant city pulsing with passion, music and the waves of the sea. Take a city tour and visit some of Rio's hot spots. Visit the art deco statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain, the colourful Lapa Steps and the Rio Cathedral. Ride a cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain and marvel at the magnificent views of the bay, city and beaches beyond. El Misti Leme Hostel (or similar) Hotel Meals included: Breakfast

3 Day 3Rio de Janeiro Enjoy a free day to visit additional sites again or take in some of Rio de Janeiro's expansive beaches. G Adventures staff will keep the group in the know regarding nearby Carnival street parties; opt in at any time. Enjoy a free day in Rio to explore the city, take optional excursions, or a favela tour. Many visitors head to the famous Copacabana beach, although the combined beaches of Ipanema and Leblon can be less crowded and are equally well garnished with vendors selling food, jewelery, sarongs, and anything else you might want. Opt to enjoy some of the Carnival street parties in the evening. Free Time Rio de JaneiroFull Day Hit the beach or opt to take some excursions. 1 HideShow Optional Activities - Day 3 Favela Tour Rio de Janeiro 100BRL per person Get a feel for what life in a Favela is really like. We take you to the top of the Rocinha Favela and then descend on foot. On the way down, you get a unique insight into the vibrant spirit of the people, especially the kids. El Misti Leme Hostel (or similar) Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 4Rio de Janeiro Get ready for the private huge G party on Copacabana beach, be sure to put on some purple flair. After head to the Sambadrome to watch the parade from section 11, dance with friends and admire the flashy costumes passing by. Take it slow today because the parade literally lasts all night. This evening between 6-7:30, transfer to the Sambodrome where we have reserved seats in section 11. G Adventures representatives will accompany you throughout the evening, and after the Parade you'll transfer back to your hotel. Samba schools are associations of people from the same neighbourhood or community (favela) who get together on a regular basis for samba meetings and rehearsals. Samba schools provide valuable jobs to the community in the production of costumes and floats. Each year, schools choose a different theme and may take to the parade from 3,000 to 5,000 members, and 6 to 8 floats. They have to make it through the runway in a period from minutes, which means each member will spend only about minutes inside the Sambodrome. G Purple Beach Party Rio de Janeiro Take Carnival to the next level with a party on Copacabana beach with all your new G friends. We have organized a private party at a beach bar with music blaring, sun shining and tons of fun to be had. Carnival Parade Rio de Janeiro The Samba Schools Parade is something that everybody has to experience at least once in life. We watch the parade from inside the Sambadrome, marvelling at the outrageous costumes, arresting beats, and soulful rhythm of this incredible competition. Cheer on a favourite samba school as their floats make their way past you down the samba runway in an unbelievable parade of colour, movement and sound that lasts all night. When Carnival magic takes over, the Sambodrome is the setting for the greatest show on earth. El Misti Leme Hostel (or similar) Hotel

4 Meals included: Breakfast Day 5Rio de Janeiro Free day to relax and recover from a late night out. Afternoon and evening street parties are ongoing for the brave and strong. After an all-night samba party, relax and enjoy the sun and surf of the city. Take a book to Copacabana beach, shop along the main streets of Ipanema and Leblon, try some Brazilian beef at a churrascaria, or just sleep in and get some rest. Free Time Rio de JaneiroFull Day Enjoy a relaxing day to recover from the all-night party. El Misti Leme Hostel (or similar) Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6Rio de Janeiro Depart at any time. Meals included: Breakfast What's Included Rio de Janeiro city tour (full-day). Christ Redeemer visit. Sugar Loaf Mountain visit. G purple costume party. Carnival festivities. Sambadrome tickets in section 11. Carnival parade. Experience Carnival with other G Adventures travellers. CEOs and G Staff available to offer assistance and support. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. Highlights Revel in one of the biggest parties on earth, witness the spectacular scenery of Rio, experience the craziness of the Sambadrome, relax knowing you have local support taking care of all the details Dossier Disclaimer The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. Itinerary Disclaimer While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances. Important Notes Costumes are a big part of Carnival in Rio, and we have found it is more fun to participate in the craziness. We suggest all of our travellers bring something purple for their own costume to wear to the Sambodrome. A purple wig, a funny hat, something silly. We

5 also suggest bringing other bits and pieces for funny costumes, but remember -- it gets very hot in Rio, so take that into consideration when choosing what you bring. Group Leader Description All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders, a G Adventures representative, or an expedition team. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds. For our shipboard expeditions and voyages we have a highly experienced shipboard staff and crew, including level III guides in the Galapagos, and an expedition team aboard the M/V Explorer. On truck trips in Africa you will be accompanied by a G Adventures leader, a driver and a cook, who are a wealth of knowledge on the regions you will be visiting. Group Size Notes The G staff to traveller ratio of a small group, but it's a G party! The more the merrier. Meals Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. On truck trips in Africa, aboard the expedition ship Explorer or our Galapagos yachts, while trekking in remote regions etc. food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets. Transport Public bus, private van, taxi About our Transportation Land Transfers & Included Tours/activities: Many of the land transfers and included tours will be by private van, car or taxi, while others may be shared with other travellers depending on availability, nature of the activity and destination. For transfers, you may have a local non English-speaking driver only, for included tours, you will be accompanied by an English speaking local guide. Solo Travellers We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price. Hostel (5 nts, multi-share). About Our accommodation is located in Santa Teresa in central Rio, close to the centre. The hostel is very close to a metro station (Gloria) and also within walking distance to multiple supermarkets, banks and drugstores. Lapa is also nearby, know for its many street parties during Carnival. Our travellers will share 6-, 8-, and 9-bed dormitories with other G Adventures travellers. While these are mixed-sex dorms, we will try to separate male and female travellers who are not travelling together into separate rooms.

6 Joining Hotel For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent. Joining Instructions Galeao International Airport is a 30 to 45 minute drive from our joining hotel. There are many private taxi companies with booths inside the building where you can pay a set rate for a taxi thus avoiding the confusion outside the airport. There is a money exchange in the Banco do Brazil on the 3rd floor of the international Arrivals area, which is open 24 hours. There is also an airport shuttle service, known as 'Real' (approximate fare $9USD) which will drop you off at the place of your choice along the route. Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned, so you may arrive at any time. Similarly the last day is a departure day in which no activities are planned. Your CEO will contact you at the hotel on Day 1 and make sure you are settled comfortably. If you arrive late, s/he will leave you a message detailing what time and where you should meet the next morning. Your CEO will organize a short meeting soon after arrival, during which you will meet other tour participants and receive information about general and specific aspects of the trip. Arrival Complications We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, as soon as possible please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your CEO (if you are not on a group tour please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier). If you are unable to get in touch with your leader, please refer to our emergency contact details. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs. Emergency Contact Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible. AIRPORT TRANSFER If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that: Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS G Adventures Office Buenos Aires, Argentina During office hours (Weekdays 9am-6pm Local Time) From outside Argentina: From within Argentina, but outside of Buenos Aires: After hours Emergency number From outside Argentina: From within Argentina, but outside of Buenos Aires: G Adventures Local Representative (Rio) From Outside of Brazil: (0054) If using Brazilian SIM card purchased outside or Rio: If using Brazilian SIM card purchased in Rio: If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.

7 Toll-free, North America only: Calls from UK: Calls from Germany: Calls from Australia: Calls from New Zealand: Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: Checklist - Passport (with photocopies) - Travel insurance (with photocopies) - Airline tickets (with photocopies) - USD cash - Credit or debit card (see personal spending money) - G Adventures voucher, pre-departure information and dossier - Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required - Weather-appropriate clothing - Towels - Swim wear - Sun hat/bandana - Sunblock - Sunglasses - Sandals/sport sandals - Comfortable walking shoes - Toiletries - First aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, and any extra prescription drugs you may be taking) -Day pack -Camera with extra memory cards and batteries -Personal Entertainment -Binoculars -Waterproof backpack cover -Flashlight/Torch -Outlet adapter -Insect Repellent -Moneybelt -Antibacterial wipes/gel -Reusable water bottle Laundry Laundry is available on this trip at the hostel, however, it is cheaper offsite at a local laundry service. Approximate cost is $5 USD per kg (2.2 lb). Visas All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION. BRAZIL VISA Americans, Canadians, Australians and some other nationalities need a tourist visa in order to enter Brazil. Please contact your local Brazilian Embassy to find out if you need to apply for one and for further details. If you are required to have a visa you will need to get one before entering Brazil, otherwise you will be refused entry. Processing fees and time frames depend on each country, but can take 2 weeks or longer, so we advise you to apply for it as early as possible.

8 COSTS: US citizens: 160 USD Australian Citizens: 35 USD Canadian Citizens: 65 USD Spending Money Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip. Emergency Fund Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence! Departure Tax USD $36 Tipping It is customary in Latin America to tip service providers such as waiters, and local guide(s) at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is an expected - though not compulsory - component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Optional Activities Optional activity prices are subject to change dependent on seasonality or min and max numbers (where applicable). Availability may depend on the season or weather conditions. All prices are per person (pp) and are based on Brazilian Reais prices, listed in approximate USD amounts. BRAZIL Rio de Janeiro Rio City Tour $80 pp Favela Tour $35 pp Favela Funk Party (Sundays only) $35 Football Game $40-$50 pp Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer) $25 pp Sugar Loaf Mountain $30 pp Samba Show (Without Dinner & Transfer) $55 pp Samba Show (With Dinner & Transfer) $100 pp Activities are not limited to the above mentioned list. Please ask your CEO for more information. Health Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings in this dossier for trip specific information. For travelers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is required. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.

9 Safety and Security Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your CEO has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your CEO will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions. Protests and Demonstrations- Protests and demonstrations, even those that are well intended, have the potential to turn violent with no warning. Counter protests can also turn violent. Action by security forces to disperse demonstrators and protesters may occur at any time. If you are in an area where demonstrators or protesters are gathering, avoid the temptation of staying for a good photo opportunity and leave the area immediately. Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards) have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s). Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk. We take all prudent measures in relation to your safety. For ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling, please visit: Trip Specific Safety Due to the number of tourists in the city for Carnival many pickpockets will also be attending this event. It is best not to carry more money than you need on you at any time and be sure to leave your passport in the hotel safe. If you need to withdraw money from an automated teller it is best to do so with during the day. When going to the beach be sure to only bring the necessities, sandals, a good book, sunblock and water should do. Medical Form Our small group adventures bring together people of all ages. It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an average level of fitness and mobility' is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travellers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own luggage at a minimum. Travellers with a pre-existing medical condition are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that travellers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our CEOs work hard to ensure that all our travellers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided. Please refer to the physical ratings in this Trip Details document for more information. The medical questionnaire can be found online at: A Couple of Rules Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel

10 any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes. Travel Insurance Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your CEO, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number. Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation Through our commitment to responsible tourism we have developed the Planeterra Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of people and communities around the world through support of international charities, local organizations and community projects in the places that we visit on our tours. G Adventures matches all individual donations and pays all administration costs, which means that 100% of each donation is doubled and goes directly to support our projects. For more information about Planeterra and the projects we support, or to make a donation, please visit Planeterra Dollar-A-Day Program Our Dollar-A-Day Program provides travellers with the opportunity to help us give back to the people and places visited on our tours by donating one dollar per day for the duration of their tour. 100% of these proceeds will go directly to support our G Adventures for Good projects. To participate in this program please indicate at the time of booking that you would like to participate in G Adventures' Dollar-A-Day program, either by clicking the check box online, or by advising your G Adventures specialist or travel agent. (Note: Donation will be charged in the currency of your booking) Feedback After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be ed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at customerservice@gadventures.com and we will send it on to you. Newsletter Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G Adventures, subscribe at Stay current on how our company invests in our global community through our foundation - Planeterra. Sign up for Planeterra's monthly news to learn more about how to give back and support the people and places we love to visit. Travel Forum - The Watering Hole Be sure to stop by The Watering Hole, our adventure travel forum. If you're interested in meeting others booked on your upcoming trip, check out the Departure Lounge section of our forum and introduce yourself. Otherwise, just drop in at anytime to share some travel tips, ask questions, meet other travellers and quench your thirst for travel. Our forum is located at wateringhole.gadventures.com. Itinerary Notes Please note that all travellers booking this package will be sharing mixed-sex dormitory-style rooms with other G Adventures travellers.